New Delhi [India], September 9 : Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain alleged a "ploy" by the NDA amid political parties abstaining from voting in the Vice Presidential election.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will abstain from voting, BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) announced that the party will not take part in the polls, while Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has announced a "boycott".
Syed Naseer Hussain on Monday said that the parties abstaining from the polls had an opportunity to take a stand against the NDA's ideology.
He said, "I believe that there is a contest between two sets of ideas. This set of ideas is connected to nation building, building and protecting the institutions, while the other ideology is just misusing. The parties that are abstaining today a historic opportunity for take a stand.
"It seems that the ploys that we have been seeing for the last 10 years, like the threatening and dominating parties or using agencies against them, are being used in this election too," the Congress MP added.
Earlier today, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab announced to boycott the Vice Presidential elections on Tuesday. The party has said that neither the Central nor the state government has meaningfully helped the people of Punjab during the devastating floods, which have affected large swathes of farmland, displaced thousands, and submerged people's homes.
"Almost one-third of the state lies submerged under water, with houses and crops completely destroyed. It is a man-made tragedy caused by the Punjab government's negligence and incompetence. Neither the state government nor the centre have come forward to help Punjabis in any way. Neither the state government nor the centre have come forward to help Punjabis in any way," the party posted on X.
The party said that the people of Punjab are "very upset and angry" with both the Centre for holding a VP election while the state suffers.
"The Shiromani Akali Dal represents the sentiments and the voice of the people of Punjab. Therefore, the party has decided to BOYCOTT this Vice Presidential poll," the post added.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari expressed confidence in the Opposition's candidate Justice B Sudershan Reddy.
He said, "I thank all the leaders who participated in the mock poll session yesterday...I am confident that Vice Presidential candidate B. Sudershan Reddy will become the nation's next Vice-President."
Sudershan Reddy is set to contest against the NDA's candidate CP Radhakrishnan.
Voting to begin at 10 am at the Parliament, while the results will be declared in the evening today.